Hi

I had a root canal done 2 days ago and the dentist warned me that the tooth would be sore for a while but he didn't mention anything about my gums, it is very painful high above the tooth, is this normal? and how long will it last?. Thanks

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Maz

Maz, I've had a few root canals and never been sore for more than one day. You should give your dentist a call, you may have an infection.

It's normal for the tooth to be sore for up to five days, but this sounds more like it's in your gums. They usually use a rubber dam when they do root canals, the clamp that holds it on isn't always friendly on the gums, but that shouldn't be severely painful and should be getting better and not worse. Is there a temporary crown or filling? Sometimes the temp cement can impinge on the gums. It's impossible to say without looking at it. Go see your dentist, that's what they're there for. I don't think he/she would want you to be in pain.

after a root canal is it normal for the tooth to throb? if so for how long???

Yeah, the clamp can cause some discomfort in the gums. A root canal can as well, because all the dental work inside the roots causes stress on the connective tissue that keeps your tooth in its socket. How long often depends on how the RC went and whether or not the tooth was abcessed or infected.

I usually have little post-RC pain and only on the day when they're pulling the nerve out. Though on my retreatment, my more painful post-appointment pain was when they were redoing the canals.

if you have increasing pain and swelling, you should contact your dentist, or if it doesn't lessen after3-4 days.

I just got back from my endo(awesome btw) who told me that my gum pain and puffiness was from my crown pulling away from the tooth and food getting caught there and causing decay and inflammation. So I have to get it replaced, any cavities treated and hopefully it will clear up.

Otherwise, the tooth was looking really good, as was the apices.


The first root canal didn't take and I never really felt good about that crown.

I had the retreatment done by the endo six months ago and the infection was caused by an undiscovered fourth canal. But, I had decay forming on the border of my crown as well. So, I definitely don't want to sit around and wait to see what that can do.

So even later on, you can have gum problems after RCT.